Bottom discharge reciprocating oil well pump



March 31, 1959 A. D. LARSON I 2,879,714

BOTTOM DISCHARGE RECIPROCATING OIL WELL PUMP Filed Jari. 23, 1957 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Albert 0. Larson IN VEN TOR.

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March 31, 1959 A. D. LARSON BQTTOM DISCHARGE RECIPROCATING GIL WELL PUMP Filed Jan. '23, 1957 Fig.2 Fig. 3

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Albert 0. Larson INVENTOR.

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March 31, 1959 A. D. LARSON BOTTOM DISCHARGE RECIPROCATIIQIG OIL WELL PUMP Filed Jan. 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.

Alberf 0. Larson INVENTOR.

BY -Mm BOTTOM DISCHARGE RECIPROCATING OIL WELL PUMP Albert D. Larson, Oklahoma 'City, Okla.

Application January 23, 1957, Serial No. 635,742 8 Claims. (Cl. 103-155 This invention comprises a novel and useful bottom discharge reciprocating oil well pump and more particularly relates to a long stroke reciprocating pump adapted especially for use in oil wells.

Pumps of the reciprocating type which are especially for use in oil wells are characterized by a relatively great length compared to their diameter in order that the same may be introduced into and supported in a tubing or well casing and may successfully operate in the narrow confines usually attending such usage. Further, pumps of this character are usually subjected to deleterious effects of sand or other solid .matter introduced into the pump by the flow of the oil or other fluid therethrough, and which solid matter through attrition greatly shortens the effectiveness and the life of a pump.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a reciprocating oil well pump which will be particularly adapted to meet the aforesaid conditions.

An important object of this invention is to provide a reciprocating plunger type pump adapted for oil well use wherein a unitary pump chamber assembly is operatively interposed between the pump barrel and the standing valves of a pump assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in accordance with the preceding object wherein the discharge valve assembly shall be entirely separated from both the standing valve assembly and from the pump plunger and barrel. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pump construction which shall employ a solid pump plunger or piston reciprocating in a pump barrel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved pump assembly which will eflectively prevent sediment and solid material from entering the pump barrel of the device.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a pump assembly in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the cleaning of sediment entering the pumping chamber will be greatly facilitated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention-as claimed.

Figure l is a perspective view, parts being broken away and shown in vertical and horizontal section, of an embodiment of a pump assembly in accordance with this invention, the same being illustrated in operative position in a string of tubing;

Figures 2, 3 and 4, are enlarged views in vertical section, parts being broken away and parts being shown in elevation, of the pump assembly of Figure 1, showing respectively, the upper, middle and lower portions of the same;

United States Patent ice Figures 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional detail views taken substantially upon the planes indicated by the section lines 5-5 and 6-6 of Figure 2, respectively;

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are horizontal sectional views taken substantially upon the planes indicated by the section lines 7--7, 8-8, 9,9 and 10-10 of Figure 3 respectively;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the pump chamber unit forming a part of the invention; and

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the dis charge valve assembly of the pump chamber unit, and associated parts thereof.

Referring primarily now to Figure 1 there is indicated by the numeral 10 a portion of a string of tubing in which is disposed the pump assembly 12 embodying therein the principles of this invention. string includes an anchor shoe having spaced inwardly extending annular ribs or rings 14 and 16 for the purpose of sealing, supporting and anchoring the pump assembly 12 therein as set forth hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, with reference being also made to Figure 1, it will be seen that the pump assembly consists of an outer sleeve or jacket 18 which at its upper extremity carries a suitable coupling assembly 20 which is hollow and is adapted to having a fluid tight sealing engagement with the internal surface of the tubing 10 as shown in Figure 2. For this purpose the packing assembly may include a plurality of radially and circumferenti ally enlarged packing rings or seals 22 engaging the inner wall of the tubing. As shown in Figure 2, the packing assembly may besecured to the open end of the sleeve 18 as by telescoping screwthreaded portions.

At its lower end, as shown best in Figure 3, the jacket 18 is screw-threadedly engaged upon the upper externally threaded neck 24 of a tubular coupling member 26. At its lower end, the latter is internally threaded for engagement with a body '28 which comprises a pump chamber unit. At its lower end, the latter is internally threaded for engagement with an upper valve cage 30, the latter in turn being internally threaded for engagement with a lower valve cage 32.

As shown in Figure 4, the lower end of this lower valve cage is internally threaded for engaging a tubular anchor member 34 constituting the-lower or inlet end of the pump assembly.

Referring now particularly to Figures 4 and 1, it will be observed that the anchor member 34 at its lower end is provided with longitudinally extending slots 36 whereby to render the lower end of the same radially resilient or expansible. Intermediate its ends, the anchor member is provided with a conical seating surface 38 adapted to rest upon the annular rib 14 and form a fluid tight joint therewith whereby passage of fluid upwardly of the tubing past the member 34 is prevented and whereby the weight of the entire pump assembly may be supported upon the tubing string by the rib 1,4.

Adjacent its lower extremity, the anchor member 34 is vertically slotted as at 36 and is provided with a radially enlarged circumferential extending rib 40 together with a conical tapering lower extremity 42. The rib is of sufficient size and so spaced fromthe seating surface 38 that the rib will resiliently be retained beneath the internal rib 16 of the tubing shoe when the seating surface 38 rests upon the rib 1.4, as shown in Figure 4. The inherent resiliency of the slottedlower extremity of the anchor member is such that when the pump assembly is lowered, the tapering surface 42 will cause the slotted lower end to be radially contracted enough to allow the same to pass the ribs 14 and .16 in succession until the surface 38 rests upon-the rib 14. At this time the retainer .rib 40 will be below the rib 16, allowing the slotted lower The tubing extremity of the'anchor member to radially expand and resiliently retain and lock the same in-position in a manner shown in Figures Land 4. When it is desired to withdraw the pump assembly, it is merely necessary to grip the sameby suitablet'ackle at' the surface,-and the lower end-of the ancho'r'membe'r'will be compressed as the rib 40 passes the rib 16 to permit its withdrawal.

Receivable through the string of-tubing 10 is a sucker rod string 44 adapted to be operatively engaged with an actuator by any suitable reciprocating mechanism, not shown, at the surface of the ground whereby the pumping stroke of the device may be performed. At the lower end of the pump pull rod 44 carried by the sucker rod string there is secured as by a coupling 46, having rounded edges as at 47 (see Figure ),'a pump plunger or piston 48 which is a solid member, and is slidably received in a pump barrel constituted bya sleeve'50 whose lower end asshown in Figure 3 is internally threaded -in the upper portion of the hollow tubular coupling member 26. As shown in Figures 2 and 6a guide sleeve 51 is secured to the pump barrel by a-setscrew 53 and received within the jacket 18. Rounded edges 55 facilitate positioning of the sleeve 51 within the jacket 18. The arrangement is such that the pump plunger 48 maybe reciprocated in the pump barrelStl, with the lower end of the plunger being always received and retained within the two extremities of the pump barrel 5!).

The vertical reciprocation of the plunger 48 in the pump barrel is effective to effect a flow of fluid upwardly through the pump chamber unit 28 in a manner and by a structure tobe subsequently described, which fluid then passes outwardly of the pump chamber into the annular space between the pump unit 28 and the tubing and from thence into the jacket 18 above the pump chamber unit as set forth hereinafter whereby the fluid may be discharged at the surface of the ground in the manner well understood in the art.

Fluid is supplied from a standing valve assembly which is disposed between the lower end of the pump chamber unit 28 and the anchor member 34.

Reference is now made particularly to Figures 3 and 4 for an illustration of the standing valve assembly. The upper valve assembly has a passage therethrough which at its lower end is diametrically enlarged to provide a valve chamber 52 having a ball valve 54 movable therein and adapted to rest upon an annular valve seat 56 provided by a ring 58 which is retained beneath the valve chamber 52 as by abutment against an internal rib 60 against which it is held by the upwardly projecting extremity of the lower valve cage32. The latter in turn'also includes a passage therethrough which at its lower" end is diametrically enlarged to provide a valve chamber 62 in'which is disposed a valve 64 adapted to cooperate with annularyalve seat'66 carried by the ring 68, the latter being likewise secured by being pressed and clamped against the underside of an internal rib 70 through the agency of the upper extremity of the anchor member 34. As so far described it will thus be seen that there are provided upper and lower standing valve assemblies by means of which fluid drawn to the upper and lower end of the anchor member by reciprocation of the pump plunger 48 will move upwardly into the pump chamber unit 28, while backward flow is prevented by the dual standing valves. I

Reference is now made especially to Figures 3, l1 and 12 for an understanding of the novel pump chamber unit forming an essential feature of this invention. The latter preferably comprises a cylindrical member having anexternally threaded diametrically reduced upper end '72 adapted to be received within the internally threaded" lower end of the coupling member 26, and is internally threaded at its lower end for reception of the upper valve cage 30. A longitudinal passage 74 extends through the body 28 and establishes continuous communication between the hollow interior of the upper valve cage 30 and the lower end of the pump barrel 50, being offset or laterally displaced from the common axis of these members? Formed in the body of the unit 28 is a bore or chamber 75 which is parallel to the passage 74 and which receives a dual discharge valve assembly to be now described.

The upper end of this valve receiving chamber consists of a here or passage 76 which opens to the top surface of the body 28 and is closed by a removable plug 78 whereby access may be had to the interior of the passage fora purpose to be subsequently set forth. At its lower end passage 76 is provided with an annular shoulder 80 which merges into the upper discharge valve chamber 82. Freely movable in this chamher is the upper discharge valve 84 which is adapted to cooperate with an annular valve seat 86 formed in the ring 88. The ring is seated and abuts against the underside of an annular rib 9 0 provided in the.valve,passage means in the body 28, this rib havingan internaldiameter suflicient to permit passage of the ball valve 84 therethrough.

Slidably received in the bore 75 is a sleeve or casing 92 constituting a lower discharge valve cage, the upper end of this sleeve abutting against the lower side of the ring 88 for clamping the same against the shouldered lower surface of the rib 90. The exterior surface of the sleeve is provided with a circumferential groove 94 in which is seated an O-ring or other packing or sealing ring 96 to provide a fluid tight seal between the sleeve 92 and the wall of the valve passage in which the sleeve is disposed. Intermediate the open ends of the sleeve, the interior of the latter is provided with a transverse member 98 which constitutes a stop for the limit of upward movement of a lower discharge .valve 100 and is apertured as at 102 to permit passage of fluid. The valve 100 is reciprocable within a chamber 104 and is adapted to cooperate with an annular valve seat 186 formed in Y the valve ring 108. The latter abuts the lower end of the sleeve 92 and in turn has its lower end engaged bya ring or sleeve 110. The latter likewise is provided with a circumferentially extending channel or groove 112 in which is received an O-ring or other packing member 114. An externally threaded bushing 116 is screw threadedly engaged at the lower end of the valve assembly passage in the member 28, and thus serves to retain and clamp all the previously mentioned elements in this passage. It should be noted th'at when it is desired to disassemble the dual discharge valves, it is merely necessary to remove the plug 78 and by drivinga' tool downwardly therethrough, after the retaining bushing 116 has remove all of the valve assembly elements can be removed from the lower end of the valve assembly passage. 7

The valve passage communicates by means of the hollow bushing 116 with the interior of the upper valve cage 30 of the standing valve assembly, and also with the passage 74.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Upon the upstroke of the plunger 48, the discharge valves 84 and 100 will be seated upon their seats 86 and 106 respectively. At the same time, fluid will be sucked in through the lower end of the anchor member 34 will pass upwardly through the lower and thenthe upper standing valve assemblies, and will pass upwardly through the passage 74 into the pump barrel below the plunger 48. Any sand or foreign matter brought. inby their, coming fluid, may also follow thissame. travel, butwill probably not be drawn upwardly into the pump barrel.

Upon the downward stroke of the plunger 48, the fluid within the passage 74 and the pump unit 28 will be cora pressed, the standing valves 54 and 64 will beplosed and the fluid then forced upwardly through the bushing Y 116, through the pair of discharge valves 84 and 100 and will be then discharged through a discharge passage 1 1 8 see Figures 3 and 11, which extends through the wall of the unit 28 to the exterior thereof whereby the fluid will be discharged into the annular space between the pump assembly 12 and the tubing and above the seating and sealing engagement of the assemblies at the rib 14 and the sealing surface 38. Below the packer assembly 20, 22 of Figures 1 and 2, the fluid discharged into the tubing string 19 from the interior of the pump unit 28 through the aperture 118 will be again returned into the pump assembly 12 through the aperture 120.

It will be noted that any solid material drawn to the pump chamber of the unit 28 at the lower end of the pump barrel 50, will be washed downwardly out of the latter upon the downstroke of the pump, and will be discharged through the discharge valve assembly, thereby minimizing wear resulting from the introduction of such foreign material into the pump barrel.

It will be noted that there is thus provided a dual discharge valve assembly which is compactly mounted in a pump chamber unit, the latter being an integral subassembly which serves to connect the pump barrel portion of the device with the standing valve assembly thereof. By virtue of this arrangement, the pump barrel and the pump plunger are disposed entirely above the discharge valve assemblies so as to reduce the possibility of any sand or foreign matter accumulating in the pump barrel. In addition, by this arrangement the discharge valve assemblies may be considerably larger than if it were necessary to incorporate the same into the pump plunger.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A submerged deep well reciprocating pump comprising an outer sleeve loosely received for disposition in a well tubing with a space'therebetween, an upper sealing means on the exterior of said outer sleeve establishing a sealing engagement with a well tubing, a pump barrel in said outer sleeve, a solid pump plunger reciprocable in said barrel, a pump chamber unit connected at its upper end to both said outer sleeve and to said pump barrel, a standing valve assembly connected to the lower end of said unit and communicating therewith, an anchor member connected to the lower end of said standing valve assembly and communicating therewith, a lower sealing means on the exterior of said anchor member establishing a sealing engagement between the latter and said well tubing, said pump chamber unit having an unobstructed passage in direct and continuous communication with said pump barrel and said standing valve assembly and a discharge valve assembly passage having continuous connection with said standing valve assembly and a further passage communicating with said space between said unit and said tubing, non-return discharge valves in said discharge valve assembly passage, a return passage in said outer sleeve establishing continuous communication between said space lying between the tubing and the outer sleeve below said upper sealing means and the interior of the outer sleeve above the connection of the pump barrel with said unit.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pump chamber unit comprises a unitary cylindrical body, a tubular coupling having threaded engagement with the upper end of said body, said coupling having an internally threaded bore receiving said pump barrel and an externally threaded portion receiving said outer sleeve.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pump chamber unit comprises a unitary cylindrical body, means removably seated in the upper surface of the latter for obtaining access to said discharge valve assembly passage from the upper surface of said body.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a guide sleeve receiving and secured to the upper end of said pump barrel and received in said outer sleeve.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said anchor member has a longitudinally slotted, radially resilient lower end, an annular radially outwardly projecting anchor rib on said lower end having a releasable anchoring engagement with said tubing.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said anchor member has a longitudinally slotted, radially resilient lower end, an annular radially outwardly projecting anchor rib on said lower end having a releasable anchoring engagement with said tubing, said lower sealing means being disposed on said anchor member above said slotted lower end.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said unit comprises a unitary cylindrical body, said standing valve assembly being directly secured to said body and ineluding upper and lower detachablevalve cages, the lower valve cage including an internally threaded bore at its lower end, said anchor member being threadedly engaged in said bore.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said unit comprises a unitary cylindrical body, said standing valve assembly being directly secured to said body and including upper and lower detachable valve cages, the lower valve cage including an internally threaded bore at its lower end, said anchor member being threadedly engaged in said bore, said lower cage being open at its lower end and having an internal rib therein, a valve seat seated against said rib and being clamped thereagainst the upper end of said anchor member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,388,602 Rotteleur Aug. 23, 1921 1,992,402 Stevenson Feb. 26, 1935 2,733,664 Saalfrank Feb. 7, 1956 

